The Beginner’s Guide to Uber Riders

So, What Is Uber?

A location-based app that makes hiring an on-demand private driver...easy.

For riders, Uber is a convenient, inexpensive and safe taxi service. Hire a private driver to pick you up & take you to your destination with the tap of a button on your phone - and they'll arrive within minutes. Not only is it an on-demand car service (now you can schedule it as well, upto 30 days in advance), but you can see exactly where the driver is as they come to pick you up.

For drivers, Uber provides exceptional pay while allowing you to be your own boss & pick your own hours. Take on fares whenever you wish (work as little or as much as you want) while meeting people in your city from all walks of life.

Uber

Uber Story to Start with

On a snowy Paris evening in 2008, Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp had trouble hailing a cab. So they came up with a simple idea—tap a button, get a ride.

What started as an app to request premium black cars in a few metropolitan areas is now changing the logistical fabric of cities around the world. Whether it’s a ride, a sandwich, or a package, we use technology to give people what they want, when they want it.

Launched in San Francisco, California
Now operates in 500+ cities in 68 countries
Currently valued at over $60 billion dollars

HOW UBER WORKS?

HOW UBER WORKS?

Quite simply, Uber is a ridesharing app that connects riders to drivers at the touch of a button. Ridesharing utilises empty seats in passenger vehicles, and the Uber platform makes it possible for you to access a safe, more reliable, convenient and affordable way to get from A to B.

uber app screenshot

Here’s how:

One Tap Request – Uber uses your phone’s GPS to detect your location and connects you with the nearest available driver. Get picked up anywhere by dropping the pin for your pickup location and hitting ‘Request’.Clear Pricing – enter your pick-up and drop-off address to get a fare quote within the app before you ride.Reliable Pickups – once the app has connected you to your driver, we’ll display their name, vehicle details, phone number and driver rating.Track Your Trip – the Uber app will provide you with the ETA of your driver, plus you can track their arrival and be notified with a push notification when they arrive. You can also ‘Share Your ETA’ from the Uber app so your friends can track your journey too.Cashless & Convenient – your credit card or PayTm account stored in your rider account mean there’s no handling cash – ever! Riders receive a receipt after every trip that includes a fare breakdown, route map and their driver’s details (in case you need to contact your driver about a lost item).Two-way Rating System – both riders and drivers rate each other out of 5 after each trip providing a transparent quality control system founded on real-time trip ratings and user feedback. Know your current rating

Rider Support – questions or feedback about your trip? Simply follow the link at the bottom of your receipt and one of our rider support team will be in touch.

Is Uber Safe?

Many people are curious as to how safe Uber truly is, and rightfully so. Your safety is infinitely important. The truth is for a "taxi service", Uber is incredibly safe. After each ride, a passenger will rate their overall experience with the ride. Drivers are highly reliant on good ratings - otherwise they'll get the boot. Likewise, drivers will rate the passenger after each ride as well; so other drivers can get a heads up about troublesome or belligerent riders.

As of recently, Uber has been giving their driver and passenger overall user experience and personal security protocols a complete overhaul. User safety has always been important at Uber; but it's never been a bigger priority than it is today.

I write about Uber and its services in India. It helps to improve your experiences while using Uber. There is no affiliation with Uber. Its totally personal blog. I am Abhishek Maurya, a blogger, reader, tweeter.